Trigger device used in a palmtop computer

ABSTRACT

A trigger device includes a retaining frame, a swing arm, a toggle switch, a resilient member and a touch component. An end of the swing arm is connected to the middle of the retaining frame, and another end of the swing arm is connected to a magnetic sensor, and an end of the toggle switch is pivotally connected to the top of the retaining frame. The swing arm forms a pressing rod disposed on the toggle switch and pressed for swinging the swing arm. The retaining frame and swing arm are connected to the resilient member, and the touch component is mounted into the retaining frame and installed at another end of the toggle switch. An elastic button is installed between the touch component and the toggle switch for pressing the toggle switch. Obvious feel and tough can be provided to enhance the operability and convenience of the trigger device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a trigger device, and more particularlyto a trigger device used in a palmtop computer.

2. Description of Prior Art

To expedite distributions, logistics and warehouse businesses andprocess a large quantity of data in the shortest time, a bar code is thetrend for products of our daily life. Not only supermarket, warehouseand distribution businesses use bar codes as a tool for controllingmerchandises, but payments for parking tickets, credit cards and otherbills also use bar codes as a necessary input tool. Further, a bar codecannot be read and determined visually and totally relies on a palmtopcomputer such as a scanner for its operation. Therefore, it is a mainsubject of the present invention to find a way of enhancing theoperability and convenience.

In general, a traditional trigger device of a palmtop computer having amagnetic switch includes a retaining frame, a swing arm, a toggle switchand a resilient member, wherein an end of the swing arm is connected toa middle section of the retaining frame and another end of the swing armis connected to a magnetic sensor, and an end of the toggle switch ispivotally connected to the top of the retaining frame, and a pressingrod is formed on the toggle switch for pressing the swing arm, and theresilient member is connected separately to the retaining frame and theswing arm, such that when the toggle switch is pressed, the sensor ofthe swing arm will be controlled to turn on or off the palmtop computer.

However, there are still some drawbacks existed in the practicalapplications of traditional trigger devices used in palmtop computers.Since a traditional device usually does not come with a touch component,users cannot observe a palmtop computer being turned on and reading datawhile the toggle switch is moved backward all the way to the end of itstraveling path. As a result, users may press the toggle switchrepeatedly to read data, or users may press the toggle switch too longthat rapidly wastes a great deal of power consumption of the palmtopcomputer and greatly lowers its operability and convenience. Theforegoing shortcomings of the prior art demand immediate attentions andrequire further improvements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor ofthe present invention based on years of experience in the relatedindustry to conduct experiments and modifications, and finally designeda trigger device for a palmtop computer in accordance with the presentinvention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.

The present invention is to overcome the shortcomings and avoid theexisting deficiencies of the prior art by providing a trigger device fora palmtop computer, wherein a touch component is installed between aretaining frame and a toggle switch, such that when the toggle switch ispressed, obvious feel and touch of a click can be provided to greatlyenhance the operability and convenience.

The invention provides a trigger device that comprises a retainingframe, a swing arm, a toggle switch, a resilient member and a touchcomponent. An end of the swing arm is connected to the middle section ofthe retaining frame, and another end of the swing arm is connected to amagnetic sensor and an end of the toggle switch is pivotally connectedto the top of the retaining frame, and a pressing rod is formed on thetoggle switch for pressing the swing arm. The resilient member isconnected separately to the retaining frame and the swing arm. The touchcomponent is fixed in the retaining frame and installed at another endcorresponding to the toggle switch, and an elastic button is installedbetween the touch component and the toggle switch for pressing thetoggle switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however maybe best understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe invention, which describes certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a trigger device and a handle of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a trigger device and a handle of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a scanner applied to thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an application as depicted in FIG.5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technical characteristics, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent in the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 for an exploded view and a schematic view ofthe present invention respectively, the invention provides a triggerdevice used in a palmtop computer, and the trigger device comprises aretaining frame 10, a swing arm 20, a toggle switch 30, a resilientmember 40 and a touch component 50.

The retaining frame 10 is a rectangular frame being formed by aplurality of surrounding panels and comprising: two correspondingsupport arms 11 protruded outward from the top of the retaining frame10; a through hole 12 connected to an end of each support arm 11; atransversal stop board 13 disposed at the middle of the rear of the twosupport arms 11 for limiting the swinging scope of the end of the swingarm 20; a transversal rod 14 disposed on both left and right sides ofthe bottom of the stop board 13; a fan-shaped hole 15 disposed at themiddle section of the stop board 13 on the right side; and a containinggroove 16 disposed on a board behind the fan-shaped hole 15.

The swing arm 20 is substantially in a n-shape, and comprises afan-shaped member 21 protruded separately from the exterior of thebottom of both left and right sides and passed through the fan-shapedhole 15 of the retaining frame 1O. The swing arm 20 forms a rectangulargroove 22 at the top of the swing arm 20, and the groove 22 is providedfor installing and connecting a magnetic sensor 23, wherein the magneticsensor 23 can be a permanent magnet, and the groove 22 forms atransversal rod body 24 under the groove 22.

The toggle switch 30 comprises a cap-shaped triggering portion 31, twocorresponding protruding shafts 32 protruded from both left and rightsides of the triggering portion 31 and pivotally connected to a throughhole 12 of the retaining frame 10, a L-shaped pressing board 33protruded backward from the bottom of the triggering portion 31, and twopressing rods 34 disposed at the lower edge of the triggering portion 31and corresponding to both left and right side arms of the swing arm 20for pressing and swinging the swing arm 20.

The resilient member 40 can be a tension spring having a hook 41extended from both upper and lower ends of the resilient member 40, andthe hooks 41, 42 are hooked onto the transversal rod 14 of the retainingframe 10 and the rod body 24 of the swing arm 20 respectively.

The touch component 50 can be a micro switch, but the micro switch isnot electrically connected and it also conducts no transmission ofelectric signals. The touch component 50 comprises a base 51 and anelastic button 52 protruded from the front of the base 51, and the base51 is mounted into the containing groove 16 of the retaining frame 10,and the elastic button 52 is installed corresponding to the pressingboard 33 of the toggle switch 30, such that the touch and feel of aclick can be produced during an operation. In addition, the touchcomponent 50 of the invention further comprises a connected elasticplate 53 disposed at the bottom of the base 51 and extended obliquelyoutward, so that after the pressing board 33 of the toggle switch 30 ispressed onto the elastic plate 53, the elastic plate 53 will be pressedon the elastic button 52 to produce a feel of the click.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 for an exploded view and a cross-sectionalview of a handle trigger device and a handle of the present inventionrespectively, the trigger device of the invention further comprises aT-shape handle 60, a hollow chamber 61 formed in the middle of thehandle 60, and a through hole 62 formed at the front of a lateral sideof the handle 60 and interconnected with the chamber 61. After theforegoing components are installed and placed into the chamber 61, thetriggering portion 31 of the toggle switch 30 is precisely disposed atthe corresponding position of the through hole 62 and exposed from thehandle 60 and then mounted onto a horizontal board of the retainingframe 10 and screwed onto the handle 60, so as to constitute a triggerdevice of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 for a schematic view and a cross-sectional ofa trigger device being used together with a scanner in accordance withthe present invention respectively, the invention is provided forconnecting a palmtop computer 7 such as a scanner, and the palmtopcomputer 7 installs a magnetic switch 71 at the position of a magneticsensor 23 corresponding to the swing arm 20. Normally, the resilience ofthe resilient member 40 drives the trigger device to press the top ofthe swing arm 20 onto a stop board 13 of the retaining frame 10; suchthat if a user triggers the triggering portion 31 of the toggle switch30, the pressing rod 34 of the toggle switch 30 is moved backward andpressed onto two lateral boards of the swing arm 20. While the swing arm20 is swinging backward, the magnetic sensor 23 is moved backward aswell, and the magnetic force of the sensor 23 is used for controllingthe magnetic switch 71, such that the palmtop computer 7 can read datasuch as bar codes. Further, when the toggle switch 30 is moved to theend of its traveling path, the pressing board 33 is pressed on theelastic plate 53, and the elastic plate 53 is pressed on the elasticbutton 52; so that when the toggle switch 30 is triggered, obvious touchand feel of a click can be produced to greatly enhance the operabilityand convenience.

In summation of the description above, the trigger device used in apalmtop computer of the present invention complies with the patentapplication requirements, and thus is duly filed for patent application.

The present invention are illustrated with reference to the preferredembodiment and not intended to limit the patent scope of the presentinvention. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in theforegoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skillin the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications areintended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A trigger device used in a palmtop computer, andthe palmtop computer having a magnetic switch, and the trigger devicecomprising: a retaining frame; a swing arm, with an end coupled to amiddle section of the retaining frame, and another end coupled to amagnetic sensor corresponding to the magnetic switch; a toggle switch,with an end pivotally coupled to the top of the retaining frame, andforming a pressing rod disposed at the middle section of the toggleswitch and pressed on the swing arm; a resilient member, with both endscoupled respectively to the retaining frame and the swing arm; and atouch component, mounted on the retaining frame and installedcorresponding to another end of the toggle switch, and an elastic buttonis disposed between the touch component and the toggle switch andpressed by the toggle switch.
 2. The trigger device used in a palmtopcomputer of claim 1, wherein the retaining frame includes twocorresponding support arms disposed at the top of the retaining frame,and a through hole disposed on each support arm; and the toggle switchincludes a triggering portion, a protruding shaft disposed at the top ofthe triggering portion and corresponding to the through holes for apivotal connection.
 3. The trigger device used in a palmtop computer ofclaim 2, wherein the retaining frame includes a transversal rod formedunder the support arm, and the swing arm has a rod body formed at an endwith the magnetic sensor, and both ends of the resilient member arehooked to the transversal rod and the rod body.
 4. The trigger deviceused in a palmtop computer of claim 1, wherein the retaining frameincludes a fan-shaped hole disposed at the middle section of theretaining frame, and the swing arm includes a fan-shaped memberprotruded from the swing arm and corresponding to the fan-shaped holefor a connection.
 5. The trigger device used in a palmtop computer ofclaim 4, wherein the retaining frame forms a containing groove at therear of the fan-shaped hole, and the containing groove is provided forinstalling and connecting a touch component.
 6. The trigger device usedin a palmtop computer of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is apermanent magnet.
 7. The trigger device used in a palmtop computer ofclaim 1, wherein the toggle switch has a triggering portion and apressing board protruded from the bottom of the triggering portion forpressing the elastic button.
 8. The trigger device used in a palmtopcomputer of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a tension spring.9. The trigger device used in a palmtop computer of claim 1, wherein thetouch component further includes a base and an elastic plate, and theelastic button is protruded from an end of the base, and the elasticplate is connected to the bottom of the base and extended obliquely tothe outside.
 10. The trigger device used in a palmtop computer of claim1, further comprising a handle, a chamber formed in the handle, and athrough hole interconnected with the chamber, and the retaining frame,the swing arm, the resilient member and the touch component arecontained in the chamber, and the toggle switch corresponds to thethrough hole with a portion protruded from the exterior of the handle.